Cards look to get back on track

Woking v Bromley
3pm on Saturday 14 January 2012

The Cards face another lowly side on Saturday but Garry Hill will hope that is the only similarity to last weekend – when his side performed very poorly against Staines Town to suffer their first home defeat of the season. The Cards, under Garry Hill, have always previously bounced back from a defeat. It is very important that they do so again this time if they are to allay fears of a potentially serious dip in form.

WOKING

As usual, Garry Hill was frank about his team’s poor showing last Saturday, not allowing the absence of some key players to excuse the failings of a side which should still have had enough quality to have gained a result against an admittedly well-organised and spirited Staines side. Lacking width without Dale Binns and Moses Ademola, the Woking midfield and attack failed to spark, with an ‘off’ day epitomised by the normally dependable Jack King’s 90th minute penalty miss.

On Tuesday night a similar line-up began its ‘recovery’ with a 3-0 win over Ash United in the Surrey Senior Cup, with goals coming from Giuseppe Sole, Paris Cowan-Hall and Jack King.

It’s not clear for how long Moses and Dale will be sidelined but Garry Hill has this week added Luke Medley to his squad on a month’s loan from Kidderminster Harriers. Luke had a previous, somewhat troubled, loan spell at Kingfield early in the 2009-10 campaign.

BROMLEY

Bromley, whose First Team Coach is former Kingfield favourite Neil Smith, have been going through an extremely difficult period, with their last win being as long ago as 29 October, when they beat Dartford in an FA Cup tie. They now lie in 20th place in the table with 21 points from 24 games. Away from home they’ve won three games, drawn two and lost seven, with 16 goals scored and 32 conceded. No team has conceded more goals away from home.

Things improved slightly over Christmas/New Year when they shared the points, home and away, with Tonbridge Angels but they lost 3-1 at home to Basingstoke Town last weekend.

Bromley’s cause hasn’t been helped by the loss of striker Warren McBean and Harry Harding in November. They’ve recently brought in ex-Brentford keeper Lloyd Anderson and currently have young midfielder Freddie Warren on loan from Charlton Athletic but defender Joe Dolan has recently joined Staines Town. Orlando Smith and Rory Hill provide width up front and Hakeem Araba has been the main goalscorer.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £12
Concessions/Students £8
U16s £2

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

With the 90th anniversary later this year of the Cards’ arrival at Kingfield, Mark Doyle traces the development of the ground in subsequent decades, with some evocative pictures of the ‘old’ Kingfield. The programme also includes a profile of Derek Duncan, plus all the usual previews, reports, fascinating stats and great photos. Make sure you get a copy!

LAST TIME OUT

Bromley 2 Woking 4
20 September 2011

This victory restored the Cards to the top of the table. With the return of loanee Mike Cestor to Leyton Orient, Derek Duncan began at left-back but had an unfortunate start, under-hitting a back pass, which left Hakeem Araba with the simple task of giving Bromley the lead.

The Cards didn’t allow this setback to faze them, playing some enterprising football and creating plenty of chances. The equaliser eventually came in the 37th minute, Moses Ademola turning expertly in the box and firing across the goal and into the net.

Woking went ahead three minutes after the break when Jack King’s defence-splitting pass enabled Wayne Gray to shoot home from the edge of the area. Bromley gained an unexpected equaliser when a long ball found the defence and Andy Little hesitating: Leon McKenzie lobbed Little to make it 2-2.

The Cards deservedly restored their lead when substitute Gez Sole’s shot was blocked and Ademola fired home. Then Elvis Hammond, also on as a substitute, added a fourth after his initial shot was blocked.

Come on, you Cards!